Makkah (Mecca) A city in western Saudi Arabia

Makkah is the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad, founder of the religion of Islam, and the most sacred of the Muslim holy cities.

But Makkah was an important place to Arab Bedouins even before Islam.

Makkah was most likely established with the appearance of the Zamzam (Zemzem), a 35 meter deep fresh water well.

Makkah soon became a stop along several trade routes. This has made it commercially important ever since.

The Quraysh tribe kept peace and ensured the safe passage of caravans and pilgrims into and out of Makkah.

Makkah was a religious center before the time of Muhammad, and several holy sites within the sacred precincts of the great mosque, called al-Haram, had religious significance in pre-Islamic times.

The Kaaba a windowless cube-shaped building in the courtyard of the mosque, is believed to have been built by the Hebrew patriarch Abraham and his son Ishmael about 4,000 years ago.

In the southeastern corner of the Kaaba is the Black Stone, reportedly given to Abraham by the angel Gabriel. This stone represented Abraham’s belief in one God.

Standing only a few meters east of the Kaaba is the Zamzam (Zemzem), which was reputedly used by Hagar, wife of Abraham, to provide water for her thirsty baby.

By A.D. 500, Makkah had become the most successful trade center in Arabia,prospering from the flow of merchants and pilgrims.